ARE YOU BEARING FRUIT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD? THEN EXPECT TO BE PRUNED BACK.

 When we become fruitful and we make a difference in this world to bless others and help where we can, it is time for a pruning season in our life.

As God expands our ministry and prepares us for promotion, then it is time to cut away the old dead things in our life. 

Pride, that we picked up along the way. Self-righteousness, critical spirit, anything that takes away your peace.

Things that hinder our growth and have us stunted and turning stagnant.

When God uses us in a big way or a little way, we tend to believe we had something to do with it. Human nature wants to take some of the credit. Pride sneaks into our heart.

John 15:1-2

"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser,  "every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

All the glory and credit goes to God not us.  We were just willing vessels that the Holy Spirit moved through.

We are to bear fruit in holiness, righteousness and humility. These things will experience the pruning process.  

Pruning us back is a good thing.  It can be painful when the Lord moves certain people out of our lives.

When we are pruned back, we will be stronger than before. More fruitful. 

Everyone that belongs to Jesus will experience the trial of pruning.  

We yell, "Lord there won't be anything left of me"  His reply is no, but what is left will be of Me!!

We need to remember Paul's words to us,  "I die daily."

Are we surrendered to the work of the Holy Spirit?  Are we willing to walk through the change that life has presented to us.

Remember, God plans all our days for us, it is up to us to follow the Lord's leading.

We have a New Year and New people to meet.

God will give us new ideas on how to reach lost souls that come into our life.

The Holy Spirit will reveal to us, things that are to come.

John 16:13

"However, when He, the Holy Spirit of truth has come, He will guide you into all truth;  for He will not speak on His own authority , but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will tell you things to come.

Ask God to give you spiritual ears to hear from the Holy Spirit.  

Especially when you are being pruned back and feel like there will be nothing left of you. (Remember what will be left, will be of God)

The pruning process is painful, we feel naked, and barren.  Trust God!!  He knows where the hidden self-righteousness is and other things that hinder our growth. They need to be cut away. 

WE WILL RECOVER AS WE WAIT PATIENTLY FOR THE LORD.  IT WILL TAKE TIME, HIS TIMING WILL BE PERFECT.

Isaiah 40:30

But those who wait on the Lord, shall renew their strength;  they shall mount up with wings like eagles,  They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

We ask ourselves, why does God allow wickedness in the first place?  Beloved, the darker it gets, the brighter your light will shine.

AFTER THE PRUNING PROCESS IS FINISHED, THERE WILL BE AN ABUNDANCE OF FRUIT.

Little by little the branches will bud, and fruit will appear.

We must go through the season of pruning,

because then we will flourish and be full of God's grace, compassion and mercy to help others. To see the lost with the eyes of Jesus.

We have the righteousness of Christ,  but so did the disciples when they hid behind closed doors in fear from the Romans.  

Beloved, remember sometimes the Lord allows the use of the enemy, as it drives us to the power of the cross of Christ.

So consider the pruning process as a blessing, it too will drive you to the power of the cross, and remind you of the blood of Jesus.

Beloved, dead things or very weak things do not grow.  They must be cut off.

Sometimes God will remove people that are toxic to our health, both body, and spirit.

Let the process take place and do not try to open a door that God has closed for your protection.

The Lord has nothing but good for you, because of His great love for you. 

He cannot leave you to yourself.  

You belong to Him, you will come easy or you will come hard, but you will come because you have no choice once you have given your life to Jesus.

You are no longer the captain of your ship.

So let the pruning, cutting away begin, it will produce great amounts of fruit for the kingdom of God. 

GOD IS NOT ONLY PRUNING US INDIVIDUALLY, HE IS PRUNING THE ENTIRE BODY OF CHRIST ON THE EARTH, AS THE CHURCH HAS BEEN LUKEWARM FOR TOO LONG.  TOO SELF-CENTERED,

MAN HAS BEEN CONTROLLING FOR TO LONG, IT IS TIME  THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTROLS. !!

May we all search our hearts to see if Jesus is really first in our life. Do we care more for others than ourselves?

God bless you

Jesus loves you,

Love in Jesus

Joy

Comments

Anonymous said…
Holy Spirit, come. Fill our hearts and fill this land. Cover us and guide us.
January 8, 2023 at 10:18 AM
HarrietEE said…
A good reminder as we are in a new year💛help us Lord to submit to your pruning us, getting rid of the dead, allowing new growth according to your will🙏Amen🙏Thank you Joy for the beautiful Bible verses💛
January 9, 2023 at 2:26 PM
Jeanine said…
Precious Savior and Lord
As this year is new and fresh help Your children to grasp a vision of what You would have each and everyone of us to do. Lord the harvest is so ripe as You know and souls are crying out help us all to get out of ourselves and into all that You would have us to do for Your glory and Your Kingdom!! Lord help us to die to our wants daily and stay focus on the needs of others. Lord You sure do amaze me daily with Your awesomeness!! You are always so very faithful!! May this be the best year ever on this earth. May souls be reached and hearts be changed like never before and May the body of Christ rise up like never before to a new boldness a new hunger and a new vision. In Jesus powerful name Amen
January 10, 2023 at 8:28 AM
Jeanine said…
Pruning goes without saying. If you are sold out bought out for Christ you’re gonna be stripped of every peace of flesh you have because He will take you and mold you into something so beautiful for His glory and His Kingdom!!
Look at your plants in the spring after a long winter they look so dead and dried up and we as humans (at least me that I know of) what to rip them up and plant new. But God showed me a couple years ago to cut them back and wait and wait and wait……. And then all of a sudden boom there is a little green and a little bud. That’s how it is with being Pruned from the Lord. He is making something beautiful out of His kids for His glory as we surrender to Him daily and let Him do what only He can do which is to make us more in His image.
January 10, 2023 at 8:54 AM
Unknown said…
I love, love, love this message! Being pruned may not feel good, but what it produces is awesome! And I agree… I think the Lord is pruning the church - the Body of Christ, and everything that is lukewarm will be stripped away. Hallelujah! Jesus is not coming back for a lukewarm church that is asleep. So bring on the pruning.
Nancy
January 16, 2023 at 1:04 PM
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